Alan Pardew: "It's very difficult with where we are.
"We are guessing we won't be in the Champions League and we are working to that budget really - but there is a Champions League budget if we feel we are going to threaten it with maybe two games to go.
"One of the good things is players want to come here.
"The environment is great, the team is very, very strong and I would like to think the players would be cared for and looked after.
"If I was an agent and I had a top young player, I would want to put him here."
Ashley's plan of scouring Europe for affordable talent with potential, has brought Cheick Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse to the club to great effect.
Tiote, Ba, and keeper Tim Krul, have been linked with bids from the elite in the Premiership, and Pardew knows everything depends on Ashley saying that simple word ... "NO!"